Adjustable writing-table



J. A HARRIMAN. Adjustable Writing Table. No. 242,309.

Patented May 3i, I881.

N PETERS. Hula-Lithographer. Washmglnn. D, C.

NITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

JOHN A. HABRIMAN, OF BELLAIRE, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE WRITING-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,309, dated May 31, 1881,

Application filed July 9, 1880. (Model) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. HARRLWIAN, of Bellaire, in the county of Antrim and State of Michigan, haveinvented a new and Improved Adjustable \Vritin'g-Tablc, of which the followin g is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a table especially designed for convenience in writing on large heavy books, such as books of record that are used in registers and other public offices.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of a portion of the device. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, showing the brake-shoe and its connectin g mechanism.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents a table provided with a sunken top, B, upon which are fastened the rails O 0, parallel with each other and extending laterally across said top B.

D is a rectangular open frame, supported on its rollers E E, which rollers E E rest on the rails G G of the top B, so that said frame D may readily be moved from side to side on the top'of the table A. Said frame D is moved by means of the cord F, that extends in either direction from the front of the table A around sheaves or rollers G G, that are fixed in the sockets to a in the corners of said table A,and has an end entered through each side of the said table A, over the sheaves or rollers H H, ELI. d secured to either side of the said frame 1). A rin g, I, attached to the center of the cord F, atthe front of the table A, serves as a handle, by which the operator may move said cord F, and thereby the frame D and what is supported thereon.

K is a rectangular box or frame, open at top and bottom, provided with rectangular flanges b 1), extending horizontally rearward and laterally from its upper edge, for aiding in supporting the book or books, and with sheaves or rollers c c on its lower edge at the ends thereof, and said box or frame K is movably supported in position by the restingot' said sheaves or rollers c c on the rails d d of the frame I), so that said box or frame K may have a horizontal forward and back movement on said frame D. Secured within this box or frame K is another rectangular frame, L, having lugs f f projectin g upward from the side bars thereof, through which lugs f f, and into the front and rear of the box or frame K, the horizontal and parallel rods 9 g extend,and on these rods g g, within the lugs f f, are pivoted the curved supports M, on whose upper ends are pivoted the two horizontal sections N N of the bookrest N, so that said sections or-plates N N may move freely and alternately downward and upward, from right to left, or the reverse, and thereby serve to hold the two sides of an open book at convenient levels for writing. Said rest N is further supported, and is enabled to move up and down under the weight of the book placed on said rest N by the springs O O, that are secured on the bottom cross-bar, P, of said frame L.

For the convenience of moving the frame K and its contained frame L and supported rest N backward and forward, a bar, Q, is secured to the back of the frame D and projected rearward through a horizontal slot, m, formed in the back of the table A, and in the outer end or elbow of this bar Q is pivoted a sheave, a, that revolves in a vertical plane.

Projecting downward at right angles from the horizontal arm 0 of the bar Q is the arm p,in whose lower end is pivoted a curved brake shoe or stop, R, the lower end of which stop It is connected with the treadle S by means of the rod T. v

Attached to a staple, 8, fixed in the back of the frame K is a cord or rope, V, that passes over and is turned around the sheave a, and has a suitable weight, W, secured on its depending end, this weight W being sufficient to draw said frame K, with its load, rearward to the back of the table A. In order, however, to hold said weightlV, and, in consequence, the frames K L and restNand the book that may be on the latter in any desired position, a treadle, S, is pivoted on the floor at r, and has its rear end connected with the lower end of the brake-shoe B by the rod T, and is provided with a spring, S,on its under side, at its front end. This enables the shoe R to be forced against the pulley or sheave a, so as to prevent the weight V from pulling the rope farther than is desired, and allow the operatorto adjust the frame K back and forth at will.

An arm-rest, U, consisting of a flat plate, is loosely hinged on the horizontal rod U extending along the front of the table A, said rod U being adjustably supported in the vertically-slotted brackets 0', that are held on the front of the said table A by means of adjusting-screws t, so that said arm-rest U may be elevated or depressed, as desired, and also be moved from right to left, and the reverse, at will.

A flat spring, X, secured on the front of the table A and curving upward beneath and in contact with the arm-rest U, serves as an elastic support for said rest U.

It will be seen that with this device thick heavy books may be moved and adjusted with out handling and consequent wear and injury, to suit the convenience of the writer.

With this device the two sides of abook will always be on a level, in whatever part said book may be opened, and both arm-rest and bookrest being adjustable the writer can always write in the position most easy for him, and have his hand kept from contact with the leaves of the book, so that the book shall not become soiled. As the booklics still, beingonly moved with the book-rest, there is no wear on the book from friction on the table from being pushed about; hence the book willendure much longer.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An adjustable writing-table constructed substantially as herein shown and described, consisting of sunkentop table A, movable frames D K, frame L, carrying curved supports M, and sprin gs O, vertically-moving bookrest N and adjustable elastic arm-rest U, as set forth.

2. In an adjustable writing-table, the bookrest N, having two sections, N N, pivoted supports and springs, whereby the sections are movable alternately up and down from right to left and left to right to hold the book, as described.

3. The combination, with the frames D K, of the angle-bar Q, carrying sheave or pulley n, the weighted cord V, and the pivoted shoe R and the treadle mechanism, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the movable frames D K, of the frame L, provided with lugs f f, rods 9 g, curved supports M, and springs 0, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the slotted adjustable bearing-brackets '2', the shaft U, the flat spring X, and the loosely-hi1] ged plate U, as specified.

JOHN A. HARRIMAN.

Vitnesses EDWA D IIEBDEN, H. 0. DOOLITTLE. 

